The U.S. seafood industry recorded record sales at the 25th edition of Seafood Expo Global (SEG) in Brussels, Belgium in 2017, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA).
Due to the level of success, the USDA is encouraging U.S. seafood companies looking to enter or expand their export business to exhibit at SEG in April 2018.
Overall, SEG was a “huge win for the U.S. seafood industry,” USDA said in a featured article in its website.
U.S. exhibitors generated a projected 12-month sales volume of USD 895 million (EUR 752 million) out of the expo, with on-site sales reaching USD 136 million (EUR 114 million). Businesses exhibiting under the USA Pavilion last April received heavy interest from buyers of salmon, surimi, black cod, scallops, live lobster, eel, flounder, swordfish, hake, shrimp, and mackerel, reported USDA.
Export figures from 2016 reflect even more success for the market – last year, the United States exported more than USD 5.2 billion (EUR 4.3 billion) worth of fishery products. Trade with the European Union is a kay part of that total, USDA said in its post.
“SEG is the largest international seafood trade event in the world, attracting buyers from 150 countries representing the food retail, foodservice, trade, and seafood processing industries. Held annually in Brussels, it also provides an excellent opportunity to reach customers in the European Union (EU), the second-largest and growing market for U.S. seafood exports. With per capita fish consumption increasing in the EU, consumers are frequently purchasing fish as an alternative to beef, pork and poultry,” USDA said.
Among the U.S. exhibitors in Brussels in 2017 were members of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), Food Export Northeast (Food Export NE), the Southern U.S. Trade Association and the Intertribal Agricultural Council (IAC). The three organizations were responsible for putting on a joint reception to kick off SEG this past year, a new addition to the host of activities available at the global exposition event. More than 150 trade contacts attended the reception, which featured special hosts Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky and Alaska Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Chris Hladick. The reception also boasted a food truck, with a two-star Michelin chef serving up dishes prepared with Alaskan salmon, cod, scallops, and other high-end seafood bites.
In its post, the USDA higlighted the additional support U.S. companies receive by participating as a part of the USA Pavilion at SEG, which is organized by SeafoodSource parent company Diversified Communications.
"As a USDA-endorsed trade show, exhibitors in the USA Pavilion receive additional support from FAS staff, including marketing and promotion services, market intelligence, logistical support, and on-site assistance," the post said. "FAS experts also assist with attracting overseas buyers and organizing business-to-business meetings to help American companies succeed in the global market.”
